Same mould, same alloy, different nose

[Rally Hess]

I've been playing with a Marlin 336 in .44 mag. One of my truck guns. It's seen a rough life but still does what it's suppose to. I bought the NOE 432-265-Al-Rg4 mould. I cast with the same alloy and sized and lubed with Bens Red. I cast two cavities of HP and Two of FP and then all four in DP. I have several of the RG4's and all my Marlins seem to like the DP version the best. A couple like the HP's better than the FP's. Now if a caster didn't test your loads or assumed that all three nose configurations would shoot to the same point of impact, you might have a problem. From my experience with the rg's and my rifles they don't all play together well all the time. Obviously the bullets won't weigh the same switching from HP-FP-DP, and it would make sense the point of impact would change, at least some. Below is a picture of three targets shot with bullets cast in the same mould and same recipe. Note the shape of the HP and FP patterns. Good start for the DP.

 

[35 shooter]

That's a fine load for that dp nose. Nice shooting.

 

[Ian]

Looks like some sort of HP is necessary for stability in that system judging by the oblong holes of the FP bullets. Logic dictates the HP should have shot the best, but maybe it needed a couple tenths more powder to equal the same sweet spot as the DP?

 

[Rally Hess]

I looked at the target again Ian and it is an optical illusion, the oblong holes. I find it interesting the similar shapes of the FP and HP groups. I'm shooting everything at 25 yards now. I have my plow guy build a snow "backstop"(skidsteer with snow bucket) for me, so I can recover all my lead when it melts in the spring. My 50 yd range has two trailers sitting in the lane, but my 100 yard is accessable by snomo. We've got quite abit of snow with a hard crust on top. Have a melt forecast the next few days, so want to check out the 100 yard with at least the DP.
I started these at 12.5 grs Blue Dot, a load my 629 likes with the RCBS 245 Kt. Worked out well in the 336 also but not as well as the DP is currently. The HP showed a preference for 13 grs but the FP has stayed about the same. I shot a couple beaver this summer with the DP and it's just DRT on body shot beaver. They die where I shoot them. Thats important for me, where the hiring agency requires tails be turned in for payment.

Heres another,my problem child. An 1894 in .44. Note the as cast on the target. I'm having to hand lube these and used an alloy of 25% Mono and coww to get it even close. It casts at .433 from this mould with this alloy. This is the best I've come up with so far, as bad as I hate to admit it. It shoots a 240 SJHP (Rem) fairly well, but sure not what I"m hoping for. I followed Brads thread about his 1894 and am thinking I would have to get a mould that casts larger and a sizer for same. This may stay a J gun.

This one also has shown some promise. I used to shoot this alot, my only .357, and it's a fun gun to shoot. I'm intending to work on it some more when time allows. My grandson has taken a liking to it (11 yrs old) and the .44's are more than he likes currently.

This is what I've probably spent the most time on this last year. This little rifle is just fun, and seems to have a preference for the DP and HP versions. It deffinately prefers the NOE 115 over the RCBS 98 KT, fit and seating depth required to allow proper feed mainly.

 

[freebullet]

Hard to complain about most of that, RH.

I've noticed in the 454 that deep hp's & regular hp's require different charges.

 

[Rally Hess]

Hard to complain about most of that, RH.

I've noticed in the 454 that deep hp's & regular hp's require different charges.

That would mirror my experiences Freebullet. That is why I find the HP and FP groups so interesting. The extreme spread in weight being so close in general shape. Maybe I'm overthinking it.

 

[freebullet]

I don't see it as over thinking. Having data with each design makes you more prepared.

Throws another variable in when we're talking about shooting gc designs without the gc's. The mp 312-159 shoots the flat points better than the hp's but, only when you leave the checks off.

The more details we narrow down the better off we are.